A Look at the Social EPG

When we previously discussed
the history of the electronic program guide, we revealed that the next level
for EPGs would be social iterations.

A social EPG consists of the traditional television listings supplemented with
aspects of social media (e.g. Twitter, Facebook, etc.) and/or other methods for
engagement with people.

Several different IPTV publishers and app services are providing this kind of
EPG now, and the trend seems to be growing in countries other than the United
States.

Netherlands’ Veronica Publishing

The Veronica Magazine TV guide app, available in the iOS App Store and the Google Play store, provides tweets relating to specific programming directly in
its guide. The Twitter section can be expanded to show current viewer reactions
and trending topics, and the EPG also allows viewers to share their opinions with Google+, Facebook and WhatsApp.

Veronica Magazine TV guide app/Image: tabletguide.nl

Piksel

Piksel, formerly known as KIT Digital, has designed a Social Program Guide for
cable providers that equips a regular EPG with social media functionality. The
guide lets viewers see which of their friends are watching certain programs, as
well as chat with fellow audience members on Twitter and Facebook.

Global Lead Analyst Alan Wolk called it a “great retention device” and the “EPG
of tomorrow” in an interview with SocialTimes.

Australia’s Foxtel Guide

The official app for Foxtel, an Australian pay-television business, offers
Twitter feeds related to shows and also integrates with Twitter and Facebook so
that programming can be shared with others. Available in the Google Play and iOS
stores, it’s described
as “the perfect response to today’s media smart and connected viewers who
enrich their TV experience via multiple screens to chat, shop and discover
content while enjoying great programming” by Foxtel Director of Product Michael
Ivanchenko.

Australia's Foxtel Guide

yap.TV

Launched in 2010, yap.TV is a free iOS app that enhances television listings with various social features. Users
can take polls and surveys, chat with others and participate in tweeting
sessions.

Heralded as “the perfect TV-watching companion” by TechCrunch,
the program was put together by former Apple employees and endorsed by Apple
co-founder Steve Wozniak.

yap.tv/Image: techcrunch.com

TV SideView

In May, Sony announced a
licensing alliance with community-driven wiki service Wikia, in which television
content created and edited by fans is being combined with TV listings. The
result is an app forAndroidand iOSdevices that allows viewers to learn about show episodes and characters
from the most devoted enthusiasts as Internet articles are updated live.

“The Wikia fan community is an extremely passionate and inspirational
voice of the digital generation which will now be accessible through people’s
everyday entertainment experiences,” said Owen Adams, Wikia VP Product in a press release.

Options to share what is being watched on Facebook and Twitter are also available.